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can't decide which lens to purchase for Sony 6400

 
Camera, Lens, and Equipment Buying Advice
Last Post by Olga 2 years ago
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 Olga
(@olga)
Active Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 3
Topic starter April 14, 2023 8:22 am  

I purchased my camera a while ago and started learning a little. from watching different videos on YT I got more confused as there are too many options are on the market. I am interested in family shooting, landscape, or sometimes sports ( moving objects in wildlife or kids). I probably won't be able to utilize only one lens but I would like to purchase something for landscape shooting for right now. Also I am not thinking  about being a professional photographer, just want to take better pictures for my family. 

Ultra wide Sony E 10-18 F4 OSS seems like a good choice. I probable won't find anything cheaper...  :(  I hoped I can. but the other lens is Sony E 70-350mm F 4.5-6.3 G OSS. 

are there any other cheaper but decent lenses I can find? I don't want to buy very old ones either as technologies are getting better each year. what would you recommend? 


   
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suzatlarge
 suzatlarge
(@suzatlarge)
Active Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 10
April 14, 2023 11:19 am  

Hi @olga - 

I don't know which lens you are now using on your a6400, but based on your comments, here are my thoughts. I'm a long-time Sony camera user (see my introductory post in the Sony forum topic here), and now use an a6600, after years of using the good old a6000. (A note for my comments about lenses here: my a6600 has in-body image stabilization (IS) - and your a6400 doesn't. Something to keep in mind in evaluating lenses.)

I don't think the 10-18mm Sony lens is the best choice as a first or second lens. It's decent and has image stabilization, but ultra-wide lenses IMO aren't great for pictures of people - and your family ranks high in your priorities, in your comments here. Also, landscape photography isn't my passion, but I've done quite a bit of it (I'm a hobbyist), and rarely use an ultra-wide angle for it. In my experience, the ultra-wide lenses are more useful for architecture, city scenes, and indoor room shots. Obviously, that's just my opinion, and I'm sure there are good arguments in favor of the 10-18 lens for other uses.  

Tamron has recently released several excellent lenses for Sony E-mount cameras and Sigma also came out with a great lens last year.

My go-to lens on my a6600 is the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens. It has image stabilization and amazing range. I swear, I've rarely taken it off my camera since I got it. And its list price is $700. I rarely shoot fast-action sports, and wouldn't use this lens for that. 

There's a fairly recent Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 lens that I bought to use with my a6600. I confess, I haven't used it much. It doesn't have image stabilization. But it's fast enough at a constant f2.8 that I wouldn't worry about that even on a camera without IS, and anyway for wide shot cityscapes or architectural shots I'd be using a tripod. That lens lists at $700 also. 

The lens which usually goes onto the a6600 when the Tamron 18-300mm is removed, is the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E, released a year ago and priced at $549. I love this lens. It's small and lightweight, and the constant f2.8 makes for nice results in low light and blurred background especially for portraits. If you're close enough to the action, you could shoot fast-moving sports with this lens. (It doesn't have image stabilization, so you'll need to decide if that's a deal-breaker for you.)

But if you're watching in the stands, IMO you'll need a telephoto lens with a constant f2.8 lens to capture fast action. Those are heavy and cost a lot, although I own a full frame current generation Tamron lens which goes to 180mm at a constant f2.8. I haven't tried it on my a6600 but would do so if going to, say, a rodeo or indoor powwow. The crop sensor effect would mean it has an equivalent reach of 270mm - sweet! It's this one: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens for Sony E mount, priced at $1200, often on sale for a bit less. However, the lens doesn't have image stabilization, as noted, something to consider. 

I see that I haven't recommended any Sony brand lenses. I'm not knocking them, it's just that over the last year or so, I've found Tamron and Sigma lenses to meet my needs. I own some Sony brand prime lenses for my full-frame camera, but I don't see them as all that desirable as the next one or two lenses you purchase for your a6400.

I hope this helps. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your camera!

 


   
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 Olga
(@olga)
Active Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 3
Topic starter April 17, 2023 8:57 am  

thank you for your response.


   
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